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Articles for the ‘Art’ Category

Surely you have been experimenting with musical synthesis in hip hop beats, if you have been into music production for more than a few months. So, what level are you at? Do you wish to do more but just don’t have the knowledge? Want to make more exciting sounds but can’t find the inspiration or workflows that allow you to get into that zone? Don’t worry so much. Let’s go over a few things here, and maybe your head will clear up a little bit.

Even the most simple-looking and basic subtractive synthesizer can be very involved and demanding of the user and drums, which is you. One of the best tips you can be offered is this: before you start twisting knobs and moving things around, consider how the sound you’re envisioning can be programmed. The more you do this, the easier it will be for you in the future to decide on a sound in your head and replicate the sound through your speakers by twisting the right knobs and moving the right faders.

It truly is an artform to be in awe of if you want to see how to become a DJ. I am still amazed when I watch YouTube videos of guys making insane sound patches with such precision and drive.

Think about how the sound changes over time and use the filters to emulate your feelings about the sound in this department. Think of different sound sources in the way they would help you to make your final sound. For instance, a square wave has a sound that is perfect for modelling wind instruments with, as its hollowness lends well to the task. On the other hand we have the saw wave which is a bit more even with a slight edge. If you’re programming string sounds or some types of cutting leads, the saw is your weapon of choice.

It’s always worth thinking about ways to add subtle feeling and character to your synth sounds. For acoustic instruments that you can synthesize, this is very important. The believability can be judged based on the expressiveness alone of, say, a synth guitar or violin. These are oft-offended instruments when it comes to emulations. Beginners and advanced patch makers should take note!

You can’t just loop things indefinitely without modulation. If you do, you’ll be left with a cold tone that can be disastrous for the warmth that you should try to get out of your virtual instrumnets. So what can you do? Well, still loop, but instead of just finding a good cross-over point to loop with, apply subtle filter envelopes as the sound evolves. This is the trick to making sounds that are palatable to your audience.

If you have been making your own sounds for a while, I hope you can find some new insight in this article. After all, music production is like anything else: you’re either learning or your dying. Especially true for those seeking how to make hip hop beats. A little bit dramatic but it’s certainly the tone I want to carry through to you, the reader. Let’s check out a few ways you can improve your synthesis methods.

First of all, let’s discuss depth. I’ve found that a great way to add depth and richness to a synth sound you are making is to use multiple oscillators and sound sources but to detune them against each other very slightly. This can make a tremendous difference in the thickness of the sound and how it comes across to the listener. If you only had two oscillators on the hip hop samples to work with you could offset the second one by 5 cents, and the first by another 5 cents so the difference is measurable and obvious, yet subtle in its identification.

For even richer and thicker snares – and I mean mega rich! – you could use more and more oscillators. On some virtual instruments and hardware devices you can use up to 99 oscillators and more, making for huge ensembles of detuned goodness. The way that this number of oscillators is offered is through unison mode, which, when switched on, allows the instrument to multiply the oscillator used by up to 99 or so, and gives you control over the detune range.

On some computers, using this many oscillators will put a heavy strain on system resources such as the CPU, so it is advised to keep an eye on the stats and if you incur a jittery operation or inconsistent clocking, to freeze some of the tracks (like this synth track) so your computer does not need to mathematically compute the different oscillators anymore.

Another way you can thicken up your sounds in a different way is to tune down one oscillator up to an octave beneath the main one. This makes the sound richer not only in sound range but also harmonically as you are basically using an octave of difference between the sounds. You don’t even need to use the same sounds; experiment and you will come across some great permutations. If you were to use a fifth (7 semitones) instead of the octave (12 semitones), you accomplish the classic fifth sound we hear in so many patches these days.

I hope I’ve shed some light on making rich sounds for your music. There are many other ways you can spice up your patches and I hope this is the beginning of a journey for you. Best of luck.

Are you a productive beat maker? Many of us would hesitate to give an honest answer. For some music producers, completing more than one project a week sounds very unappetizing. We need constant stimulation of the brain, and sitting down for hours on end to twist knobs and work out harmonic details seems… well, kind of boring, doesn’t it? Let’s look at a few different methods you can use to kick-start your productivity and make better beats in less time.

First of all, if you can find out how long it takes you to produce or make a rap beat, write the number down. Now let’s go micro manage the figures we’ve got. If you spend an hour deciding on a drum loop, that is unacceptable! Hit makers should be able to sketch out a rough bear in less than 30 minutes maximum. If you check out YouTube, there are guys making great beats in less than 10 minutes with no preconceived ideas of the music they’re making.

One thing that may help is to cut off your internet. If you’re making music on your computer, then you’re probably guilty of checking your email in the middle of a project. Or going to another favorite website of yours. Well, consider this: if the computer you’re making your beats on was only for music production, would you be more productive? Damn right you would!

For music producers on the go, Apple’s new iPad will help improve productivity when it comes to producing songs. How? Well, one of its most bemoaned lack of features is multi-tasking. You simply cannot open one program while another is open. Which means if you are making a song, you will think twice about going to check your inbox, I guarantee that! However, other features of the iPad may decrease productivity, such as the smaller screen size. But the limitation of the multi-task feature certainly tells us a lot about how certain exclusions can be good.

Working in the night can also be good for creativity. Many music makers such as Jermaine Dupri often work into the early hours of the morning. Think about it: what else is there to do at 2AM on a Tuesday? You can’t even watch TV because of the ridiculous programming on!

So, there you have it: a few insights into productivity and beat production. Hopefully you can see what is stopping you from being as productive as possible, and make a few adjustments for the good of your music.

How to Have a Photo Collage Puzzle made

Today most people have a digital camera and therefore the cost of taking a picture is almost zero. In the past, you might only shoot 5 to 10 photos of an event, but now you give little thought to the number of photos you take. Cameras have also got better allowing you to take great images easier than ever before. Many shots are deleted but it is likely that you will end up with far more keepers than before. The end result is an explosion in the number of great photographs and a growing demand from consumers to find an interesting use for these photos.

Most people love to solve a Jigsaw Puzzles so the idea of making your own unique Photo Collage Puzzle from your images is appealing. What attracts people to a Jigsaw has always been solving the the picture so being able to piece together a puzzle of your your kids, or a shot of your last vacation, or even a picture montage you have created, just makes it all that more fun.

The quality of Photo Puzzles has also improved significantly recently and puzzle print, build and cut is now consistant with locally bought store puzzles. No more poorly printed images or pictures that peel away from the cardboard that typified photo puzzles in the past. The selection of puzzle sizes has also improved so a 500, 1000 or even 1500 piece puzzle is readily available today. All you have to do is upload your favorite image to the Jigsaw2order.com website and within a few days have it delivered to your door.

Having a high quality high school senior photo takes a little preplanning.  Here are some of the essentials to an outstanding senior portraits:

Your choice of clothing has a great deal of impact on your appearance to the camera.  In fact clothing can literally make or break the photo. 

 Make-up can play an important role in the photo process.   It can enhance the look of the person as well as cover blemishes.  Consider adding a little make-up for your high school senior photos.  Just don’t go overboard.

The final decision about background is vital.  The background must blend well with everything in the photo.  Many a neutral background for their Portland senior portraits.   

Find the best facial angle and expression before you arrive for your portrait.  A quick and easy way is by looking into a mirror and practicing.  Test different poses until you find the best angle for you.  Don’t forget how important your expression will be.  Practice smiling until you find a pleasant smile that works for you.

To your successful Portland senior portraits!

Melissa Crawford, an Atlanta portrait artist, spends the majority of her artistic time painting commissioned portraits. Examples of her work along with procedures and fees can be seen on her website, www.MelissaCrawfordArt.com. Melissa strives to create portraits that go beyond a mere likeness. She wishes to create a beautiful work of art, admired for its beauty and merit, whether one knows the sitter or not. Melissa has developed quite a following, being commissioned by many local residents, along with clients outside of the area. She is a member of two national brokerage agencies, in which she is represented across the United States.

Melissa recently took part in a prestigious juried competition put on by the Portrait Society of Atlanta. It was open to artists across the country. Melissa won second place, finishing behind California artist, Tony Pro. The competition was judged by Raymond Kinstler, perhaps America’s most well known living portrait artist. Melissa won with her commissioned portrait of local girl, Julia, in Julia with Toy Horse. After the competition, Melissa was notified that she was awarded the Society’s Member of Merit Status.

Atlanta Portrait Artist Melissa Crawford can now be found on Google Maps. She has lived in the Atlanta, Georgia area for 25 years. She started painting portraits full time from her home studio near Atlanta about 5 or 6 years ago.

She keeps busy painting commissioned portrait oil paintings for two portrait agencies and also has many commissions she receives on her own. She travels the country to do photo shoots for the commissioned portraits. She recently had to fly to Baltimore, MD in February 2010 while they were having a record snowstorm of over 38 inches in some places. She had to use one of the client’s car battery to power her lights in order for her to take her pictures for the portraits of their girls because their power was out at their home for over 24 hours.

Melissa is a Member of Merit of the Portrait Society of Atlanta where she has won numerous awards on her portrait paintings. She also paints landscapes in oil. She has some landscapes she has painted of local areas near Atlanta as well as paintings from her trips to Italy, France and England.

You can see many of the portraits and other paintings by Atlanta Portrait Artist Melissa Crawford by visiting her website at www.MelissaCrawfordArt.com.

Although oil painting has been around for a very long time, even dating back to the 1400’s; it’s still relatively new compared to other forms of art. However, before oil painting came to be, paint was mixed with plaster that was found in frescoes or eggs in tempera paints. It was not until Jan Van Eyck came along, that oil painting rose to fame, as he attempted to have more realism in art.

In the early fifteenth century, Europe had the desire for a more realistic appearance in artwork. This was because before that, art was basically decorative and mythological in aspects; however, at the start of the Renaissance, artists began to realize concepts and guidelines behind ideals of color, as well as perspective. They wanted to create images and objects that were more realistic to the world around them, so as a result, artist started to paint more realistically.  
 
Jan Van Eyck wanted to mimic in his paintings what nature really is and in order to do this, he made sure to paint every detail that he could of whatever object he focused on. His attention to detail made his paintings livelier; however, methods of painting and materials could not truly bring his work to full potential. Therefore, Van Eyck developed oil paintings, which changed the entire concept of painting known to artists. Before Van Eyck and others like him, painters in the Renaissance period did not have the luxury of being able to purchase colors that were already made. They had to make paints themselves, which were made from ground- up pigments contained in plants and minerals to attain shades from the entire color wheel. These were used to form a paste called tempera paint. The issue with this type of paint was that it dried quickly and made it almost impossible to have smooth transitions; hence, Van Eyck made the decision to use oil instead, which would allow him to work at a slower pace. With oil painting, accurate paintings came about.

To further create detailed images in his paintings, he also used a tiny pointed brush and many people, as well as other artists, became impressed with his work. They too began to use oil paints and due to this, oil paintings became a very popular form of art. Although today oil colors have evolved, its principals and color theory guidelines are still the same.  If you learn about this method and use oil paints correctly, you too can create wonderfully vivid and detailed paintings as Van Eyck and others of his time did. When you choose the medium of oil painting, you’ll be able to create paintings that are more detailed in settings, through the uses of shading and in addition, create portraits that are more lifelike. With time and effort, you will be able to mimic the greats of the Renaissance era.

Learn how to create beautiful oil paintings yourself by enrolling in an oil painting workshop with artist Caroline Jasper. Caroline’s workshops include both oil painting instruction and color instruction.

While we may occasionally choose a work of art with a different theme, when we’re looking for a way to brighten a wall or create a focal point, we often look to art that depicts a scene from nature.

If that nature is mountains, valleys, trees, rivers and forests, then we’ve chosen a landscape. When the work depicts the ocean, it is a seascape.

In either type of art, the main subject is a wide view of the terrain with the parts arranged in a logical, cohesive manner. Whether the scene is real or imaginary is unimportant to its definition.

Sky is almost always included in the view and weather may also be an element of the composition. Storms and snow are frequently used to add a different aspect to the works and some artists specialize in scenes created with these weather additions.

Landscapes and seascapes can also form an important part of other types of paintings, where the central subject may be something else entirely, or they can be the focus of a work that includes manmade structures, such as farmhouses or ships.
 
Landscape art goes back over 1000 years, although the word landscape, which comes from the Dutch, did not enter the English vocabulary until the start of the 17th century. Landscape photography has held an important role in the art world since the 19th century. Seascape photography developed later as photographic techniques improved to the point that wave motion could be captured.

There are different traditions of landscape art in the east and west. In early works of the Roman and Chinese traditions, there were typically panoramas of imaginary landscapes with ranges of spectacular mountains. In China, the works frequently included waterfalls, while in Rome there were seas, lakes or rivers. Often the Roman style included a near figure and a transition to the panorama, while Chinese works were generally only the distant view.

A bigger difference in the two art forms was their value in their cultures. Until the 19th century, landscape painting was not a popular art form in the West, where the focus was on religious or historical scenes or portraits. In East Asia the Chinese watercolor of mountains and waterfalls was the most prestigious form of painting. As ocean travel grew, the need to create seascapes as part of paintings grew as well.

During the Impressionistic period the fascination that drew artists to explore changing light drew them to water, where light was ever changing and reflected from the water.  Monet is perhaps the best known of the Impressionist artists to explore seascapes and sea scenes during that period, creating works that are enduring and fascinating for more than the fact they were created by one of the masters of the period.

Artist Caroline Japser creates modern impressionist seascapes in her unique colorful style.